Ben's Deaf dance inspiration

When were you interested to dance?

When I was 6 or 7 years old and have participated in the line dance for the Deaf performance at the Cued Speech national of the private school at Kampung Pandan. There are a lot of events for a dance performance.

My school, they wanted us to show them that we can dance when we can hear a music dance. The hearing teacher and dancer taught me how to dance such as a western, India, Malay and Chinese dance too. Some Deaf dancers were unable to listen to music because they are different from their level of sounds.

Thus I am falling love to dance Para-Para Sakura music because I even watched the dance movie by Aaron Kwok. I dance to the Para-Para Sakura song to 4 times for showing the performance and the dancer helped me count beat by hand sign. I can memorize Para-Para Sakura because I have practised it very well.

Some were nervous because they cannot hear the sound of music. I asked them to follow my step when dancing. Eventually, they were doing well when they followed my step dancing. Their parents were surprised by my talent and that I could hear a music dance. They didn’t expect that I can hear music while dancing.

On 2007/08, I have applied to the exchange student to the USA for 6 months when I was 17 years old. I went to the Deaf and Blind Colorado Springs school. Colorado Spring is the capital of Denver,USA. I went independently without my parent from Malaysia, learnt how to live and learnt that there are different people and culture in the USA. 
There was a porm night event from my high school. I was curious about what it is a porm night because I never do it in Malaysia. I explored the western partner dance. But I am very nerd and don’t know how to dance because I have only learnt for 1 hour before the event started.

7 years later, at 25 years old, my hearing friend, Patience Chen brought me to dance class. She encourages me to dance because she knew that I can listen and speak as well. I am just a weak hearing people. At the first time, I felt a bit awkward and didn’t know how to dance. It was very difficult for me to lead and communicate with girl partners. Then I stopped and gave up because it was very difficult for me and scare me. Another year I went back to the social dance class and met some friends.

After 4 years, I have practised and learned the techniques of dances from the traditional Swing and Shim Sham and pick new Coast West Swing, Balboa and Blue. I am able to communicate with the dancers. After that, I am curious and learn Batacha dance but it is a short time.

In conclusion that, the Deaf International even dance who is hard of hearing that they love to dance like me such as Nylon DiMarco, Marlee Martlin, and another too. That’s what I would like to perform my dance to show them in the community.

Left picture took it in the USA (2007/08)
Right picture took it in Malaysia (2019)

Why did I like the dance with a partner?

It makes me be meditation. Also, I learn different talent dancers for learning and tricks. I can meet new friends from International and Local dancers and also learn to speak English in my improvement.

The doctor and the consultant from the hearing aids shop has advised me to must be active and listen to a sound every day. Thus, I can be practice to speak and proactive to listen to my ears since I had trained it by my parenting and aunty. It takes me a long time and catches a different tone of sounds.

I have learned the workshop such as 2 days only and just dance with social entrainment. I am a bit embarrassed to dance a girl partner. So I am trying to open-minded and open heart to follow my dance styles. I felt loved to dance with partners because it was so fun and more communication in the body language dancing. Some hearing people are impatient and notice my wrong methods of dancing. I should be accepted and learn from the mistake of improving.

Did you even communicate with a hearing partner dance after the dance social?

Yes, I did to chat some partner. But they look awkward and don’t know how to chat with me. I am trying to chat them as well so that they can understand me. It keeps doing well to us that they are curious and know why I can hear music. They had known Deaf matter that they cannot hear music but I did it as well. So they are a bit surprised and saw my dance performance at the stage. I am sharing with them how I can hear music then they know who I am.

Which do you like two partners or line dance group?

As comparing the line dance and two partners, they are different in the total. The line dance is always the same methods. We should be the same body language of dance and followed to the music only.

The two partners are really creative, unique and feeling our hearts in music. I have picked the two partners because it is more thinking and leader. I am interested to learn how to listen to music while dancing and also learn to lead the girl dancing. It gives me to learn different people’s skill dance from international and local of Malaysia.

That’s all I am a pleasure to share my story with all of you here. Thank you for your reading time.

Written by Benny Liew, Ben